The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Friday, January 4, 2002, Chandigarh, India

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50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

R E G I O N A L B R I E F S

PUNJAB

ABOHAR
PROTEST RALLY: The Technical Services Employees Union, PSEB, held a protest rally at subdivision No. 2 of the PSEB on Wednesday. Those addressed the rally included Mr Anirudh Kumar and Mr Jagat Singh Rawat, vice-president and secretary, respectively, of the union and the former circle president, Mr Shanker Dass. They criticised the authorities concerned for not withdrawing “false” police cases against certain employees at Bathinda.

FELLOWS CLUB: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Fellows Club: chairman — Mr Rajinder Singh Jakhar; patrons — Mr Balraj Singh Dhillon and Mr Sudesh Khunger; president — Mr Sukhpal Singh Sidhu, vice-president — Mr Hardyal Singh Aulakh; secretary — Mr R.K. Bajaj; joint secretary — Mr Malkiat Singh Sidhu; and treasurer — Mr Surender Gupta.

OPIUM SEIZED: The subdivisional police on Tuesday arrested two persons and seized 3 kg of opium from them. Mr Gurmit Singh Chauhan, DSP, said a police party led by SHO Sarabjit Singh intercepted a truck coming from Sriganganagar near Alamgarh village, on the outskirts of the town, and seized 3 kg of opium during search. Gurmej Singh and Pargat Singh, residents of Khehrekalan in Gurdaspur district were arrested under the NDPS Act.

BARNALA
ARRESTED: The police has arrested two vehicle thieves Nazar Singh of Baalian village and Pawan Kumar, alias Pappu, of the local Akalgarh Basti. Mr Kanwarjit Singh Sandhu, SSP, said three scooters, a passport , two pairs of the gold earrings and a bank passbook were recovered.

BATALA
SALARIES NOT PAID: Resentment prevails among employees of Municipal Council, Qadian, 17 km from here, against the authorities concerned allegedly for non-payment of their salaries since October. Mr Sat Pal, president, Municipal Employees Union, urged the government to immediately release salary grant in this connection.

BATHINDA
STRIKE: The strike of the local unit of the Unemployed Teachers Front, entered its fourth day on Thursday. The front is demanding appointment letters for members who had applied for 3,311 posts advertised recently.

RALLY: Members of the PWD Field and Workshop Workers Union held a rally in front of the office of the SE, Sewerage Board, on Thursday. They are demanding a share of profit under the ACP scheme, promotion to Keymen, completion of the seniority list and filling of vacant posts.

GURDASPUR
JAWAN CREMATED: An Army jawan, Manoj Kumar, who was buried alive under snow on the Siachen glacier while defending the country on December 25, was cremated with full state and military honours at his home village, Purana Shalla, on Wednesday.

LUDHIANA
CONVENTION: The 28th national convention of Apex India will be held from January 4 to 6 at Hotel Baron. According to Mr Dhiraj Rai Gupta, chairman of the convention committee, delegates from all over India are expected to participate. The inauguration will be followed by a cultural programme.

ACADEMIC SESSION: The academic committee of the local unit of Indian Medical Association would organise its academic session on Sunday. Dr Gursharan Singh, president, in a press statement on Thursday said the matters of the IMA would be discussed during the session. Dr R.J.Dash, Professor and Head, Department of Endocrinology, PGI, would deliver a talk on “Diabetes- the changing scenario” and Dr Harshvir Pannu, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Sigma Heart Institute, would speak on “Acute Coronary Syndrome-role” of Surgery’.

CONDEMNED: The Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) has termed the raising issue of nuclear weapons “for self defense” as extremely unfortunate and uncalled for. Dr L.S.Chawla, president and Dr Arun Mitra, general secretary, IDPD, in a press note on Thursday said as a body of health professionals, they had enough statistics to prove that these were weapons of mass destruction and their use could cause large-scale human misery and devastation. Dr Mitra said the IDPD as a part of international movement of physicians for peace, the International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) had opposed the Pokhran nuclear test.

FREE MEDICAL CAMP: A free homoeopathy medical camp was organised at Churpur village on Tuesday by the Prerna Kendar International. According to a press note, patients were examined by Dr Satbir Singh and Dr Ramesh for ailments like joint pain, headaches, backache, stomach problems and dental problems. The camp was inaugurated by Mr Harbhajan Singh Garewal, sarpanch of the village. Free medicines were provided to the patients at the camp.

MACHHIWARA
DHARNA: The staff of the local Block Development and Panchayat Office, which has been on strike due to non-payment of salaries since December, on Wednesday staged a dharna against Punjab Government in front of the office of Market Committee where the Speaker of State Legislative Assembly, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, had come to preside over a meeting of SAD-BJP workers. Besides the local panchayat secretary and Samiti Karamchari Union, other employee’s unions that participated in the dharna included Technical Services Union, Municipal Employees Union PWD employees union and Gram Sewak Union. Later, a deputation also met the Speaker.

PHAGWARA
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following were elected office-bearers of the local Senior Citizens Council: president — Mr Piara Singh Virdi; senior vice-president — Mr B.D. Sharma; vice-presidents — Mr Harbhajan Singh and Mr P.L. Kheti; general-secretary — Mr R.J.L. Duggal; and treasurer — Mr B.L. Narang.

ROPAR
NSS CAMP: NSS volunteers of Government Senior Secondary School for Boys, Nangal, collected Rs 2 lakh donations for a school building in Nikoo Nagal village.

SAMRALA
APPEALED: Mr Sardara Singh Ghulal, general secretary of the Retirees Welfare Association has appealed to the State Government to accept the remaining recommendations of the Fourth Pay Commission regarding pensions. Talking to mediapersons in the local Civil Rest House here on Thursday, Mr Ghulal said the main demands were merger of 97 per cent DA w.e.f August 1, 1993, while determining the payment of gratuity and leave salaries to the pensioners who retired before January 1, 1996, increase of pension at the rate of 0.5 per cent per half year exceeding the service of 33 years, reservation of PUDA plots for pensioners and provisions for chronic diseases treatment in all hospitals in the state.

FUNERAL: The lawyers of the local Bar Association attended the funeral of Nambardar Natha Singh, father of Mr Karam Singh Dhaliwal, former president of the local bar. The work was affected as all advocates including president of the bar association Sangrur, Mr Baldev Singh Mann, attended the cremation at Ladpuri village, 10 km from here.

STAMP VENDORS: Mr Surinder Bhalla, president of the Punjab Stamp Vendors Union, in a press conference here on Wednesday welcomed the Punjab Government’s decision to allow the stamp vendors to sell the non-judicial (Ashtam papers) to the extent of Rs 50,000/- for the execution of sale deeds or mortgage deed. He demanded the Punjab Government to direct treasuries offices and allow the stamp vendors to purchase the non-judicial papers upto Rs 50,000.

CHANDIGARH

OFFICE-BEARERS: The All-India Postal Employees Union Class III, Chandigarh Circle, asked its leaders on Thursday to take up their demands with the Union Communication Minister, Mr Pramod Mahajan. A press note issued by the union said the employees were unhappy for not accepting their demands which included upgradation of scales of various categories of employees. At its meeting, the union also elected its office-bearers: Mr Jagdish Dhiman — president, Mr Ravinder Sharma — secretary; Mr Lachhman Singh — treasurer; Mr Faqrla — organising secretary; and Mr P.C. Ajal — auditor.

BOOK FAIR: After a span of four years, a 10-day National Book Fair with central theme ‘Children, family and books’, will begin from Firday at the Circus Ground, Sector 17, here. Over 100 publishers, retailers and educational cassette manufacturers are taking part in the fair jointly organised by the Pustak Mela Samiti, Delhi, and Education Department, UT Administration. Mr Chandra Bhushan, secretary of the Pustak Mela Samiti, appealed to the book lovers and other citizens to give books as gifts to children. The visitors to the fair will get a chance to buy books in different Indian languages including Hindi and English. The visitors will also get a chance to interact with their favourite writers in addition to attending seminars.

GARHWAL SABHA: Garhwal Sabha, Chandigarh, has decided to publish a directory of members of Garhwali community in the area. According to Mr Chander Singh Rawat, president of the sabha, the directory to be brought out for the first time would have names, permanent addresses and phone numbers of all people of Garhwali community residing in Chandigarh, Panchkula, SAS Nagar and the surrounding areas. Members of the Garhwali community have been asked to get in touch with the sabha for this purpose.